Mechanical pool ball racking device



y 3 J. J. sRANToNlc 1,919,296

MECHANICAL POOL BALL RACKING DEVICE,

, 'Filed Dec. 31, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 [murder Allomey y 1933- J. J.GRANTONIC MECHANICAL POOL BALL RACKING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec.

Invenlor Ji fiitfi 1 By @nnop A llorney y J. J. GRANTONIC MECHANICALPOOL BALL BACKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inuenlor Allomey July 25, 1933- .1. J. GRANTONIC MECHANICAL POOL BALL RACKINGDEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor A Home y y 1933- YJ. J. GRANTONIC 1,919,296

MECHANICAL POOL BALL BACKING DEVICE Filed Dec. 51, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5A Itomey Patented July 25, 1933 7 JOHN LGRANTONIG, OF MINGO, JUNCTION, oIo t iimcHANroA rooL BALL BACKING DEVICE v ja 'i u u na ed December31,1930. Serial No, 505,954.

' This invention relates to a mech anical pool hall racking device andhas for an important ob ect toprovidefln a manner as here nafter "setforth, a-device of this character embodying a novel construction andarrangement of parts for conveying a pool hall which has beenpocketedlfrom apool table and'eselectively depositing said ball in anydesired COI11 partment of a rack which is mounted on a suitable supportadjacent the pool: table and above the horizontal plane of said pooltable.

Another important object of the invention ist'o provide a mechanicalpool hall rack 'deviceof the character described embodying novelmeansfor removing theballs from the wall rack when a new game is tobe startedand manually racking the balls in position on the table. v

Other objects of the invention are to provide a mechanical. pool hallracking device of the charactcr' set forth which will besiniple inconstruction, strong, durable, efficient and reliable in use and whichiiiay be manufactu'rcd and installed at low cost. ,I p

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages ofthe invention may l30 coinc apparentfrour a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accon'ipanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

L "Figure/6 is a fragmentary View in vertical Figure '1 is a View infront elevation showlig the major portion of tliei-ipparatusconstituting the presentinvention. 1

Figure Qis a view similar to Figure 1 with portions of theapparatushrolren away in verticalsection. i a Figure 3 a view i'nperspective showing a pool table with which the deviceis operativelyconnected, said pool table having mounted thereon switches for ratus. a,V g t Figure & is a fragmentary detailed View in horizontal.sectiontaken' substantially on the line 4. 4: offFigure l lookingdownwardly. t

Figure Sis a fragmentary view in vertical section taken suljistanti'allyon the line 5 -5 of Figure 1. i

controlling thefappa section through the Wall rack showing/the means ofdischarging {theballs therefrom when'said balls'are to be reracked onthe pool table, i t

Figure is vertical longitudinal section showing the olosure provided inthe'pool table'tray for preventingthe discharge of the balls froni 'saida fragmentary detailwiew in trays-to the apparatus'constitutingythisinvention when saidapparatus is not to be used} Figure 8 is adetail'view in top plan show ing a table ball rack whichis used with theapparauts in closed position.

Figure 9 is a View in top plan Figure 10 is a View. in 'side elevationoftableball rack.

r 7 Z J 1 Referring to the drawings in detail, itwiil be seen that thereferencenumeral lfdesignates a pool table having the conventionalpockets 2 therein which communicate through g of the table ball rack inopen position. 1 i 7 L the the usual channels or conduits with 'a'ninclined'tray 3 to the bottomof the "free end portion ,of which theupturned portion toffan inclined pipe 5 extends for "communication withthe tray 3 in a manner to re? ceive balls therefrom by gravity. A" subjstantlally V shaped guide 6 is disposed in the tray 3 for directing theballsinto'thepipe 5; A cover 7 is provided for removable discii.

position on thetrayfi to prevent-foreign" matter, such'a chalk, fromfalling-thereinto and getting into theconduit fi and obstruct-. 1ng saidconduit.-1'fIt maybe wellto here of the upturned portion 4 "of theconduit 5 state that aisuitjable closure8 is provided 7 whlch lsinserted in the upperendportion in the tray 3 when the apparatusconstituting this invention is not to bel'usedl The incl ned portion ofthe conduitoextendsybeneath the floor 9 of the building or otherstructure. The pool table 1' further includes the usual rails 10; H 7 vA supporting' panel or structure ll' is mounted vertically on awall orothersupport' by any 1 suitable means and jniounted vertically thereonin spaced relation there} tois aw'allrack which is designated ge nerallyby the reference numeral "12,, -Suitalble,

bars, as at 13,: (see Figure 14) maybe provid ed for supporting the wallrack 12 in position.

The rack 12 comprises a plurality of vertically spaced, inclinedpartitions 14 which i, provide the compartments 15 for the reception ofthe balls 16, the upper sides of the partitions 14 having channels orgrooves therein through which theballs travel, The compartments 15 areopen at their upper ends and are closed at their lower ends by areciprocating closure bar 17 which, as best seen in Figure 6 of thedrawings, is mounted on the horizontal rods 18 which extend slidablyinto thechamb-ers 19 of the upper and lower members 20 of the rack 12and have oppositely engaged therewith the coil springs 21 whichyieldingly urge the closure bar 17 into engagement with the adjacentends of the partitions 14 for closing the lower ends of thecompartments. 15 and thus retain the balls 16 in said compartments. Thecoil springs 21 are, of course, housed in the chambers'19 and encirclethe rods 18 and have one end engaged with one end of the chambers 19 andtheir other ends engaged with an abutment or head provided therefor onthe rods 18. An operating handle 22 is fixed on the closure bar 17 foractuating said closure bar.

An'elevator designated generally by the reference numeral23 is disposedvertically adjacent the open ends of the compartments 15 of the wallrack 12 and said elevator is spaced, from said wall rack. The elevator23 comprises a vertically disposed elongated casing- 24 having its.upper portion extending adjacent to or in abuttingengagement with thesupporting panel or structure 11 and secured thereto by any suitablemeans, as by a bracket 25.

ported on a flange 26. Theinner periphery of the cas ng 24 has formedtherein a vertically' extending substantially semi-circular grooveorchannel 27 which has one end portion extending through the floor 9 andterminating in spaced relation to the lower end of the casing 24. Theinclined conduit 5 is provided with an upturned end portion 28 whichcommunicateswith the lower endof the groove or channel 27 and withthelower portion of the casing 24. At its upper end the groove or channel27 merges into a laterally extending, inclined discharge neck or Ithereto.

per end of the casing 24 (see Figure 5). An

The casing 24 extends, downwardly through the floor Qand s supelectricmotor 34 is supported in vertical end of its armature shaft a worm shaft35 which is journaled in a bearing block 36 mounted'on the bearingblock33. The bearing blocks 33 and 36. are provided with a gear chamber inwhich are housed the gears 37 for operatively connecting the shaft 32 tothe wornishaft 35for actuation by the electric motor34. A hand wheel 38is fixed on the upper end of the armature shaft of the motor 34 toprovide means for manually actuating the spiral or worm conveyor 31.

A guide cylinder 39 depends from the supporting panel or structurelladjacent the ball elevator 23 for slidably receiving the lower-portionof a vertically movable rack bar 40 of polygonal cross section having anextension 41 of circular cross section depending from its lower end andprojecting slid.- ably through the, lower end of the guide 39.

A bridge member 42 is rigidly mounted on I the upper end of the rack bar40 for travel between the open upper ends of the compartments 15of thewall rack-12 and the upper portion of the elevator 23. The upper side ofthe bridge member 42 is provided with channel or groove 43 whlchinclines toward the wall rack 12. Rigidly mounted vertically on the sideof the casing 24 of the elevator 23 which is adjacent the wall rack 12is abar 44 having therein the substantially V-shaped notches 45 forreceiving the substantially arrow-shaped spring pressed keeper 46whichis slidably mounted in the bridge member It may be well to, here statethat the bridge member 42 is disposed at all times beneath the dischargeend of the neck 29 ina manner to receive the pool balls therefronr- V Avertically disposed housing 47 is provided for slidably receiving afiat, elongated plate 48 having its lower endrigidly mounted on thebridge member 43 and bifurcated to provide an opening 49 for the passageof the pool balls to the compartments 15 of the wall rack 12 with whichthe bridge member 43 has been positioned.

An electric motor ,50 is mounted on the supporting panel or structure 11and is operatively connected to the rack bar 40 in the man-- ner toactuate said rack bar by a pinion gear 7 51. A hand wheel 52 is securedto the armature shaft of the electric motor 50 in order that the rackbar40 may be manually actuated when it is so; desired. 'It may be well tohere state that the motor 34lwhich drives the spiral or worm conveyor 31rotates in one direction only but the electric motor 50 is of thereversible type. Switch buttons and 54 are mounted in the rail 10 of thepool table 1 or at any other desired points. The switch buttons 53 areconnected with the reversible electric motor 50 for causing rotation ofsaid motor n one direction and the switch buttons .flie player wishes 54are electrically connected with the motor in a manner to cause rotationof said motor 50 in the opposite direction. Thebuttons 53 and 54arefidentified by suitable indicia 55' in order that the motor-50 may beactuated in the desired direction for raising or lower ing the rack bar40 and the bridge member 42. The electric motor 34 is constantlyinoperation during the playing of pool game and is controlled by aswitch 56'on the panel or structure 11 as best illustrated in Figure 1of the drawings.

A shelf 57' is mounted horizontally on the supporting panel or structure11 beneath the discharge end of the wall'raek 12 for supporting a tablerack whichis designated generally by the reference numeral 58 andillustratedjto advantage in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive of the drawings.The table rack 58 comprises a substantially triangular frame 59 to thefront andv rear of which are fixed thehorizontally disposed bars '60which slidably support the complementary shiftable bottom secti'o'nsfilthrough the medium of the rip-.-

turned eyes; 62 which are I provided on the front and rear ends of thebottom sections for.

. switches53 or 54 to energize the motor 50 and actuate the rack'b ar 40to raise or lower the bridge member 42 ,until'isaid bridge member isdisposed in proper position adjacent the the wall rack 12 in which tokeep the balls which he ha s pocketed. \Vhen the bridge member 42-is inproper position adjacent the desired compartment 15 of compartn'ient 15theswiteli' 53 or 54 is rechargecl' through the neck 29. Froin t leasedhide-energize the electric *inotor' 50 and the bridge member 42 isretained in the correct position by the springpres'sed keeper 46 whichseats in the correct noteh45 of the bar 44. The shape of the head of thekeeper 46 and the notches 45 are such that the propv er positioning ofthe bridge member 42 rela: tive to the compartments 15 will. be assuredand expedited. \Vhen the switch 56 is closed,'the electric motor 34 isalso, of course, energized to actuate the spiral or-worm con "eyoi' 31of the elevator23. The ball or balls which may have been pocketedgravitate in the usualinannerto the tray 3' and are directed. by theguide 6 into the riser 4"a'nd said ball or balls pass downwardly throughthe inclined'conduit 5 into the groove orchannel 27 on the casing 24. yThe halls will protrude into the casing 24 fronrthe groove or channel 27and will be engaged by the spiral or wform 31 and carried upwardlyyanddishe c is charge ne'ck29 the balls drop. onto the bridge member 42 androll therefrom by gravity-into the compartment 15 of the Wall rack 12from which the bridge ineniber 42 has been positioned. In passingfrolnjthe bridge member 42, the balls pass throughthe openings49provided by the bifurcatedlower end of. the

elongated plate 48. 1V hen the bridge member 42 is positioned todirecttheballs'in any of the compartments 15 of the wall rack 12 whichare disposed below the uppermost conipa'rtment 15; the elongated plate48 is dis-;

posed over the open ends of the compartmentsor coin mrtment 15 which aredisposed above the compartment 'in which the ball is to be directed forclosin'g the same and pre-.

ventingthe entrancefof the balls thereinto.

A cover plate 64 is disposedin front of the rack bar 40 and the bridgemember 42 and extends between'the wall rack 12 and the upper portion ofthe casing 24 of the elevator The'cover plate 64 is'provided w th avertically extend ng slot ad aCent which are arrangedthe nun' erals 66which are arranged in order and which designate the compartments ofthe"wall rack 12. An indicator 67 1s fixed on one s de of the bridge member52 and isfoperable through the slot andcoo perates withbthe numerals ,66for indicating when the bridge member 42 is in proper position relativeto the (lQSHGd eompartments15. A light/'68. s provided on the upper:portion ofihe 'cover'plate 64 for il-I,

lumin ating the numeralsGG and the indicator 1 T V v started, the tablerack 58 is d sposedon the shelf 57- in the m an- WVhen a new game is tobe ner illustrated to advantage inFignre .1 ,of

" the drawings with the bottom sections (31 in closed positioinas seen'n F gure'8 of the" draw ngs. The closure bar-'17 is then moved outwardlyagainst the tension of the coil springs21'to the position clearly seeninFigure 6 of the drawingsto open the lower ends of the compartments 15.to permit the balls to bedischarged into thetable rack 58. "The tablerack758 with theybz'ills therein isthen carried to the pooltable 1 anddisposed thereon in thedesiredposition. The bottom scctions 61 are thenmoved outwardly to the position. illustrated in the Figure 9 of ithedrawings to deposit the balls on the table'and perinit thexremoval. ofthe frame 59 merefrol'n. As beforejstated the. hand wheels 38 and 52provide, means for manually actua t-' ing the ball racking mechanism.

I. fit is believed that theinany will. bereadily un derstoo'd and, 'al

illustrated and describedi'itlis to be understood that changes inZthefldetails ofeonstruc tion may be hadwvhich will 1':all.within thescone of the invention as claimed. 1 p

'of'a devicelin accordance with thi 'iuvei,it ion-:

p p ough the preferred embodiment of this inyention' is as 1; A ballracking device for pool tables comprising a rack having alplurality ofcon'ipartments, an elevator disposed adjacent the rack for receivingballs from the table .at its lower end portion and discharging saidballs at its upper end portion, an adjustable member for positioningselectively adjacent the compartments iorreceiving the balls from theelevator and directing said balls into the selected compartments, andmeans for releasably retaining the shittable member in ad justedposition, said means comprising a notched bar, and a spring pressedkeeper slidably mounted on the shiftable member for engagement in thenotches in the bar.

2. A ball racking device-tor pool tables having a ball receiving traycommunicating with the table pockets comprising a rack having aplui'ality'o'f superp sed, inclined ball said compartments open at theirupper ends, a closure for the,

receiving compartments,

lower ends or the compartments, an elevator disposed ad acent the openends of the com- 'partinents and spaced therefrom, a conduit connectinga lower portion of the elevator withthe tray forthe passage of? ballsfrom said tray to the elevator, said elevator adapt ed to discharge theballs at its upper end portion, means for actuatin the elevator. a rackbar mounted for vertical. movement adjacent the open ends oi thecompartments, means for actuating the racl: bar, a bridge member fixedopen at their upper ends, a closure for the lower. ends of thecompartments, an'el-evator disposed ad acent the open ends of thecompar'tments and spacedtherefrom, a conduit connecting alower portionof the elevator with the tray for the passage of balls from said tray tothe elevator,said elevatoradaptedto discharge the balls at its upper endportion, meanstor actuating the elevator, a rack bar mouiitedrlorvertical movement adjacent theopen ends ofthe compartments, means "foractuating the racl; bar. a bllClfi'O member fixed on the upper end ofthe rack bar and disposed between the raclr and the elevator and adaptedto be selectively positioned aidj-acent the open ends the compartmentsin amanner to receive theiballs from the elevator and direct said balls'into the selected coin pertinent, an elongated plate rigidly mounted011' thebridge member-and extending up? Wardly therefrom and having anopening in its lower end portion for the passage of the balls into theselected compartment, said elongated plate constituting a closure forthe open ends of the compartments which are disposed above the selectedcompartment.

l. A ball racking device for poo-1 tables having a ball receiving traycommunicating with the table pockets con'iprising a rack having aplurality of superposed, inclined ball receiving compartments, saidcompartments open at their upper ends, a closure for thef lower ends ofthe compartments, an elevator disposed ad acent the openends of thecompartments and spaced theretronna COITCl'lllt connecting alowerportion of the elevator \viththe tray for the passage of ballsfrom; said tray to the elevator, said elevator adaptd to discharge theballs at its upper end portion, means for actuating the elevator, a rackbar mounted ior vertical movement ad acent the open ends of thecompartments, meansfor actuating the rack bar, a bridge member fixed onthe upper-end of the rackbar, and disposed between the raclrand theelevator and adapted to be sel ctively positioned adjacent the open endsof 1 i n or to receive the ballsfrom the elevator and direct said ballsinto the selected compartinent, a vertically disposed bar mounted on theelevator and having a series of notches therein, a spring pressed keeperslidably,

ne compartments ina inanmounted on the bridge member and engageable inthe notches in the bar-for releasably retaining the bridge member inadjusted position.

5. A ball racking having a ball receiving tray communicating with thetable pockets comprising a rack hav .ing a plurality of superposed,iiiclinedball receiving compartments, said COllIIMUl-IHQDtS open attheir upper ends, a closure for the lower ends of the compartments,anelevator disposed ad acent the open ends ofthe compartments and spacedtherefrom, a conduit connecting a lower portion of the elevatorwith'tlie tray for the passage of balls from paid tray to the elevator,said elevator adap ed to discharge the balls at its upper end portion,means for actuating the elevator, a rack bar mounted for verticalmovement adjacent the open ends of the compsrtmei'its,v meansioractuating the rack bar, a bridge.

member fixed on the upper end of the rack bar and disposedbetween therack and the elevator and adapted to be selectively positioned adjacenttheopen ends of the compartments in a manner to receive the balls fromthe, elevator and direct said balls into the selected compartment, averticallydisposed bar mounted on the elevator and having a series ofnotches therein, a spring pressed lgeep- 7 er slidably mounted onthebridge member and engageable in the notches, in the bar forreleasably retaining the brijdge member in adjusted position, and anelongated plate mounted on the bridge member and extenddevice for pooltables oing upwardly therefrom-and movable therewith, said platehavingan opening in its lower end portion for the passage of the balls intothe selected comnartment said plate constituting a closure forth'e openends of the mmpartments which are above the selected compartment forpreventing; the entrance of the balls thereinto.

' in the casing, means for actuating the spiral 6. Aball rackingd vicefor pool tableshaving a ball receiving tray communicating with i thetable pockets c0mpr1s1ng,1n combination,

a rack including a plurality of inclined, su-

perposed ball receiving compartments, said conveyor, an inclined conduithaving one end connected to the tray for receiving'balls therefrom andits other end conncctedto the channel for discharging the balls into thei lower end thereof. said balls protruding from r the channel intothecasing and en gageable by the spiral conveyor to be elevated'thereby, a

laterally extending discharge neck at thenp-- per end ofthcchannelfordischarging the balls therefrom, a guide disposed adjacent the casing, arack bar mounted for vertical.

reciprocation in the guida'a bridge member fixed on the upper end of therack bar'for vertical movement thcrewith'for selective di spositionadjacent the open ends ofthe rack' compartments for receiving balls fromthe discharge neck and directing said halls into the selectedcompartments, said bridge mem her having a ball receiving channel in itsupper side inclined toward the compartments,

means for raisingandlowering the rack bar.

7. A ball racking device for pool tables having a ball. receiving traycommunicating with the table pockets comprising, in combi nation, a rackincluding a plurality of inclined, superposed ball; receiving com)art-':

- ments, said compartments open at their uppercnds, means at the lowerends of the coinpartinents for releasably retaining; the balls therein,a tubular easing: disposed vertically I adjacent the open ends ofthecompartment-s and spaced'the-refrom, said casing having a verticallyextending channel in its inner periphery. a spiral conveyor operativelymounted in the casing, means for actuating'the spiral conveyor, aninclined conduithaving one end connected to the tray for receiving ballstherefrom and its other end connected to the channel for discharging theballs into 7 the lower end thereof, said balls m'otruding from thechannel into the casingand engageable by the spiral conveyor to beelevated thereby, a laterally extending discharge neck at the'upper endofthe channel for discharging the halls therefrom, a guidedisposed-adjacent the casing, a rack bar mount j ed forverticalreciprocation in the guide, a"

bridge memberfixed on;the upper end of the rack bar ,for verticalmovement therewith for selective disposition adjacent the open endsof'the'rackcompartments for rece1v1ng balls from'the dischargenec-k anddirecting said balls lnto the selected compartments, said bridge memberhaving a ball. receiving channel in its upperside inclined toward thecom-i partments, means for raising and lowering the rack bar, anelongated plate rigidly mounted on the bridge member and extend.- mgupwardly therefrom, sald' plate havlng an opening inits lower endportion for the passage of the balls into the selectedcompartments, saidplate constituting a closure for the open ends of the compartments whichare disposed above the selected compartment for preventing the entranceof the balls there'- into, and-means for releasably retaining'the;

bridge member :in adjusted position.

.8. A ball racking device for pool t bles' having a ball receiving traycommun catmg with thetable pockets coinprlsinmvin comments, saidcompartments open at their upper ends, means at th'elower ends ofthecompartments for releasably' retammg'theballs there bination, a'raekincluding a, plurality of inclined,superposed hall 1GCG1V1!11 compartin,a, tubular casing disposed vertically ad,

j acentthe open ends of the compartments and spaced therefrom, saidcasing having a vertically eXtending channel 1n its inner periphery,EL;SP]ILl conveyor operatively mounted in the casing, means foractuating the spiral conveyor, an inclined conduit having, one endtherefrom and its-other end connected to the channel for discharging theballs into the lower end thereof, said 'ballsprotruding from the channelinto the casing and engageable by the spiral conveyor to be elevatedthere-- by, a laterally extending; dischargeneekiat the upper end of thechannel for discharging the balls therefrom, a guide disposedadconnected to the" tray for receiving? balls jacentthe casing, a rackbar mountedfor vertical reciprocation in the guide. a, bridge memberfixed on the upper end of the rack bar for vertical movementtherewithzfor selective disposition adjacentthe open ends of the rackcompartments for receiving balls from the discharge neckand directingvsaid balls into i the selected compartments, said i a hall receiving;channel in its upper side inclined toward the corn partments, means forraising" and lowering bridge member h aving the rack bar, an elongated;plate rigidly mounted on. the bridge memborand extendingupwardlytherefrom, said plate having an opening in its lower end portionfor the passage of the balls into the selected compartments, said plateconstituting a closureifor shaped notches therein, a keeper ,slidablymounted on the bridge member and engageable in the notches, andresilient means 0peratively engaged with the keeper for yieldinglyurging thesame'into the notches.

JOHN J, .GRANTONIC.

